BX80619i73820 Specifications

The naming convention for Intel Core processors started with LGA-1366 CPUs and continued through LGA-1156, LGA-1155, and now to LGA-2011 processors. With all those Core iX CPUs, it can be confusing to tell which CPU goes with which platform. LGA-1366 Core i7 CPUs were three-digits in 9XX range. The LGA-1155 platform made the Sandy Bridge Core i7 CPUs 2nd Generation, added a fourth digit, and start with a 2. The LGA-2011 Sandy Bridge Extreme Core i7 CPUs keep the four digits, but start with a 3. The chart below lays out the specs for the three LGA-2011 CPUs and the top-end LGA-1155 CPU, the i7-2700K.

Processor

i7-3960X

i7-3930K

i7-3820

i7-2700K

CPU Base clock (GHz)

3.3

3.2

3.6

3.5

CPU Turbo clock (GHz)

3.9

3.8

3.9

3.9

Cores/Threads

6/12

6/12

4/8

4/8

Cache

15MB

12MB

10MB

8MB

Memory Support

Quad-channel DDR3-1600

Quad-channel DDR3-1600

Quad-channel DDR3-1600

Dual-channel DDR3-1333

TDP

130 watts

130 watts

130 watts

95 watts

Socket

LGA2011

LGA2011

LGA2011

LGA1155

ACTUAL PRICE

$1050

$600.00

$320

$370.00

The cache, the cores, and the turbo boost increase, besides the price, are what differentiate the three LGA-2011 platforms. You'll notice that the Core i7-3820 only bumps up 300MHz on the Turbo clock, compared to the 600MHz jump that the other two experience. This is somewhat misleading, however, as those 6-core processors can only boost by 600MHz when less than five cores are at work. To boost all 6 cores, they can only add 300MHz. The Turbo Boost used on LGA-2011 platform is the same Turbo Boost 2.0 technology found on the original Sandy Bridge CPUs.

To give you an idea of just how much bigger the LGA-2011 CPUs are compared to the LGA-1155 CPUs, you can take a look at the image below. LGA-1155 quad-cores have a die size of 216mm squared. The i7-3820 die is 294mm squared, but it sits on the same sized CPU as the 6-core LGA-2011 CPUs that have a 435mm squared die. That's almost exactly twice the size of the biggest LGA-1155 CPUs.

Keep in mind that the i7-3820 does not come with a CPU cooler. You should be able to use your old LGA-1155 cooler. The two X79 motherboards I have both came with hardware to assist in mounting the old coolers. Next up, let's take a look at the Sandy Bridge-E architecture.

Comments

I wonder if this will be the affordable sweet spot for many of us? The lower price is compelling and the performance is very good too. I can't see quitting my i7-2600K system for this one yet, but it looks to be a good choice for future consideration.

The difference between the i7 3820 and the i5 2550k in gaming performance is not worth the extra money spent on the CPU, motherboard and quad channel RAM.For two CF/SLI GPUs we have P67 motherboards in the $120~$180 range.For tri-fire/SLI or more we have NF200 equipped P8P67 WS Revolution and Rampage boards that sell for the same price of a low-end LGA 2011 motherboard. This is a hard sell either because it's not good enough or LGA 1155 is just too good.

Coming from AMD 890 board to this motherboard was like night and day. My Benchmark 06 is 29080 at 4.5 ghz. I know I can get more but I want a nice stable system with no errors. The Performance of the CPU and the Two 5770's Crossfired is amazing. I am only using Corsair 1600 memory but this computer is a F1 Race car. My old 5xxx Video cards have never Breathed so well. I can only imagine what a couple of 7850's would look like. I am amazed at this CHIP and I bought my ASRock Extreme 9 board for this chip at Christmas, knowing that it would be a killer chip at an excellent price. it is. I am very very happy with mine and I love it.

Ya, I know it's way overpriced, but my system, with a 990X, a GTX580 Lightning, 4 raid-0 RE4's, and 1-Intel 510 SSD, serves every need I have, and does it fast, without a problem. Plus, it's an overclocking champ.

don't understand what comparision demonstarte when all cpus are running different amount of ram.3xxx with 16gb and few ones only on 4gb.my athlon x2 was doing 44fps on 2gb and 122fps on 4gb on specviewperf maya with all other component same ,resolution, threads etc everything same. as such benchmark is 100% fake to me. yes 3xxx needs 4 ram for quad channel but 4 ram can be used in dual channel too. so why not all cpus running 16gb(for quad and dual both) and 12gb(for triple channel).simply seems intel sponsered benchmark to fakely demonstrate 3xxx is best processor

Just picked up the 3820 and an X79 SABERTOOTH.Great upgrade from my AMD 980 & ASUS Crosshair board. Using my same 1600 ram(which would never run @ 1600 on my old board) and crossfired 6870's. Works great and and really only cost about $75 more for the setup than the 2600k setup(buying a high end 1155 board). Running @ 4.625 and very stable. If I had already owned an 2600k setup, it would not be worth the money for the minimal gain. Coming from an 2 year old board and going to Intel for the first time in 10 years, it seemed to make sense to purchase the newest socket board.

Running a i7-3820 at 4750gigs at a whopping 1.624v on a lower end CPU water cooler Corsair H60,I would like to know what your temperatures were reading.I find it hard to believe that it did not shut down with that kind of voltage running though it ,when intel says the safest voltage is 1.350v and not to run it over 67c.I know with just a Corsair H-60 you would be running way over 67c.Unless it was reading the voltage wrong.I have a i7-3820 on a ASRock X79 ExeTreme 4 and I can run 4750gigs at 1.304v and my tempertures run at 65c-62c-64c-60c running Prime95,on AIR a $35 Coolermaster 212 EVO.If them H-60's run that good I will have to get me one ,but all the reviews I have seen puts them around 3c to 5c cooler then what I am running.I would really like to see your tempertures at 1.624v at 4750gigs.